Diamond producing companies / mines

Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and metals company. Its focus is on finding, mining and processing the Earth's mineral resources. About 66,000 people work with Rio Tinto in more than 40 countries across six continents, including in some of the most difficult terrains and climates.

With headquarters in the UK, the Group comprises Rio Tinto plc - a London and New York Stock Exchange listed company and Rio Tinto Limited - which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. The Group supplies the metals and minerals that help the world to grow. Its major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, gold, industrial minerals (borates, titanium dioxide and salt), iron ore, thermal and metallurgical coal and uranium.

The 140 year-old Company also delivers sustainable contributions to social wellbeing, environmental stewardship and economic prosperity, within its strong governance systems.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TopArgyle Diamonds
The Argyle Diamond Mine is located in the East Kimberley region in the remote north of Western Australia. Argyle is the largest diamond producer in the world by volume, although due to the low proportion of gem-quality diamonds it is set to close by 2018.

It is the only known significant source of pink diamonds, producing over 90% of the world's supply. It additionally provides a large proportion of other naturally coloured diamonds, including champagne, cognac and rare blue diamonds. Argyle is currently transitioning from an open pit mine to an underground mine. In 2013, Argyle is estimated to produce 10.2 million carats with an average per carat price of $25/carat.

The Argyle diamond mine is also notable for being the first successful commercial diamond mine exploiting a volcanic pipe of lamproite, rather than the more usual kimberlite pipe; much earlier attempts to mine diamonds from a lamproite pipe in Arkansas, USA were commercially unsuccessful. The Argyle mine is owned by the Rio Tinto Group, a diversified mining company which also owns the Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada and the Murowa Diamond Mine in Zimbabwe.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TopDiavik Diamonds
Diavik diamond mine, owned by the Rio Tinto Group is the world class diamond mine set in one of the most challenging environments in the world, the subarctic tundra of Canada's Northwest Territories.

Its most important value is safety and everyone at Diavik builds safety into every aspect of their work. At Diavik, the management is committed to protect the environment. Diavik’s environmental management system is certified by the ISO global standard and its operation is designed to have minimal impact on the land, water, and wildlife.

Diavik is a proven under-ground mine. 2013 was its first full year as an all under-ground mine. With the underground mine now fully operational, Diavik will continue to produce high quality gems to 2023 and potentially beyond. Diavik has a bright future ahead.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TopEkati Diamonds
Ekati Diamond Mine is Canada's first surface and underground diamond mine. It is located 310 km (190 mi) north-east of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and about 200 km (120 mi) south of the Arctic circle, near Lac de Gras.

Ekati is a joint venture between Dominion Diamond Corporation (80%) and the two geologists who discovered kimberlite pipes north of Lac de Gras, Chuck Fipke and Stewart Blusson each holding a 10% stake in the mine.

There are 156 known kimberlite pipes within the Ekati block of claims, including the Point Lake pipe. Ekati officially began operations on October 14, 1998, and was operated by BHP Billiton Canada Inc., a part of the BHP Billiton Group, the world's largest diversified resources company.As of November 2012 the mine was expected to operate for another seven years.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TopBaken Diamonds
The Baken diamond mine is located along the lower Orange River in South Africa. The mine is owned and operated by Trans Hex. The central processing plant has been operational at Baken since 2001.

In 2004 the Baken mine produced 88,063 carats (17.6126 kg); average stone size for the year was 1.29 carats (258 mg). Notable stones from production in 2004 included a 78.9 carats (15.78 g), D colour flawless diamond that sold for over $1.8 million USD; and a 27.67 carats (5.534 g) pink diamond sold for over $1.0 million USD.

Probable reserves are 21.2 million cubic meters of ore at an ore grade of 1.69 carats (338 mg) per 100 cubic metres (3.38 mg/m³). There is a waste rock overburden of about 33 million cubic metres.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TopMerlin Diamonds
Merlin Diamonds Limited ("MED" or "Company") is the owner of the Merlin diamond mine, the Northern Territory’s only operating diamond mine, and Australia’s third diamond producer.

Merlin, the Company’s flagship project, commenced production in 2013. The Merlin diamond mine is famous for producing large, high clarity, super white, and high value diamonds. Australia’s largest diamond, a 104.73 carat stone, was discovered at Merlin.

Merlin Diamonds also hold extensive exploration ground in and around the Merlin diamond mine, and actively working to extend in exploration for additional sources of diamonds.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TopDTC - Diamond Trading Company

The Diamond Trading Company (DTC) is the rough diamond sales and distribution arm of the De Beers Family of Companies. The DTC sorts, values and sells approximately 75% of the world’s rough diamonds by value. The DTC has a combination of wholly owned and joint venture operations in South Africa (DTCSA), Botswana (DTCB), Namibia (NDTC) and the United Kingdom (DTC).

The DTC sells diamonds that are sourced primarily from De Beers’ mining operations in South Africa and Canada, and through its partnerships with the governments of Botswana, Namibia and Tanzania. Sorters in London, Kimberley, Windhoek and Gaborone sort these diamonds into approximately 12,000 different categories based on size, shape, quality and colour. DTC clients are known as Sightholders, and the selection process is based on the outcome of the Supplier of Choice (SoC) Sightholder application and assessment process.

The DTC’s Sightholders are required to comply with the De Beers’s Best Practice Principles (BPP)s which set out various objective standards of conduct within three main areas – Business responsibilities; Social responsibilities; Environmental responsibilities. The BPPs ensure that the De Beers Family of Companies, DTC Sightholders and applicable third parties are operating to the specific ethical, legal, professional, social and environmental standards. The DTC also requires its clients to be 100% committed to the Kimberley Process.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TopBHP Billiton
BHP Billiton is a leading global resources company. Its purpose is to create long-term shareholder value through the discovery, acquisition, development and marketing of natural resources.

Across its global operations, the Company is committed to working in ways that are true to BHP Billiton Charter values of Sustainability, Integrity, Respect, Performance, Simplicity and Accountability. BHP is among the world’s largest producers of major commodities, including aluminum, coal, copper, iron ore, manganese, nickel, silver and uranium, and also has substantial interests in oil and gas.

BHP is committed to the health and safety of its people, the environment and the communities in which it operates. Company’s corporate strategy is based on owning and operating assets diversified by commodity, geography and market. To achieve this, we also need a workforce that reflects diversity in all forms, including gender, skills, experience and ethnicity. Embracing openness, trust, teamwork, diversity and relationships that are mutually beneficial, reflects its core value of Respect and is the focus of its strategy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TopAber Diamond Corp:
Dominion Diamond Corporation formerly known as Harry Winston Diamond Corporation and before that Aber is a Toronto, Canada, specialist diamond mining and Retail Company.

The company holds a 40% stake in the Diavik Diamond Mine Project. Production at the Diavik Diamond Mine, Canada's second diamond mine, is operated by Dominion Diamond Corporation's joint venture partner, Diavik Diamond Mines Inc., a subsidiary of Rio Tinto Group. The mine began producing diamonds in November 2002.

In 2012 the company purchased all of BHP Billiton's diamond assets; the primary asset is the Ekati Diamond Mine, which is adjacent to the Diavik Mine.

Diavik and Ekati combined are estimated to produce over 7 million carats of diamonds in 2014, worth an estimated $1.1 billion. Diavik and Ekati are currently ranked the 9th and 19th largest diamond mines in the world, respectively, according to total carat production.

The company's participation in the retail segment of the diamond pipeline was by means of its ownership of Harry Winston, Inc., a chain of retail stores. On January 14, 2013 the company announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell its luxury brand diamond jewellery and timepiece division, Harry Winston Inc., to The Swatch Group Ltd. for US$750 million plus their assumption of up to US$250 million of pro forma net debt. The transaction included the brand and all the activities related to jewellery and watches, including the 535 employees worldwide and the production company in Geneva (Switzerland).

Aside from its corporate office in Toronto, Harry Winston also has a rough diamond sorting facility in Toronto and a marketing office in Antwerp, Belgium. Harry Winston sells Tiffany & Co. about 25% of the diamonds in Winstons's share and sells the remainder on the Antwerp open diamond market through its rough diamond dealer subsidiary, Aber International.
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